Rachel Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Robinson
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Robinson in 1997
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Rachel Annetta Isum
July 19, 1922 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | Manual Arts High School |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Nurse, professor |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award (2007) Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) |
Rachel Annetta Robinson, born on July 19, 1922, is an American former professor and a registered nurse. She was married to the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. After he passed away, Rachel started the Jackie Robinson Foundation to help others.
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Rachel Robinson's Early Life and Education
Rachel Isum was born in Los Angeles, California. She went to Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. Later, she attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Meeting Jackie Robinson
At UCLA, Rachel met Jackie Robinson in 1941. He was a talented athlete at the university. Rachel graduated from UCLA on June 1, 1945. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Family Life
Rachel and Jackie Robinson got married on February 10, 1946. This was the year before Jackie started playing in the major baseball leagues. They had three children together. Their children were Jackie Robinson Jr. (1946–1971), Sharon Robinson (born 1950), and David Robinson (born 1952). Sadly, Jackie Robinson Jr. died in a car accident when he was 24 years old.
Rachel's Career in Nursing and Education
After Jackie Robinson stopped playing baseball in 1956, Rachel continued her nursing career. She earned a master's degree in psychiatric nursing. She got this degree from New York University in 1959.
Rachel worked as a researcher and a nurse at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She held this job for five years. Later, she became an assistant professor at Yale School of Nursing. She also became the Director of Nursing at the Connecticut Mental Health Center.
Founding the Jackie Robinson Foundation
In 1972, Rachel Robinson started the Jackie Robinson Development Corporation. This company focused on building homes for people with low to moderate incomes. She was the president of this company for ten years.
In 1973, she founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation. This is a non-profit organization. It helps minority students get an education and develop leadership skills. The Foundation has supported over 1,000 students. An amazing 97% of their scholars have graduated from college.
Writing a Book
In 1996, Rachel co-wrote a book. It was called Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait. She wrote it with Lee Daniels. The book shares personal stories about Jackie Robinson.
Awards and Special Honors
Rachel Robinson has received many awards for her important work. These awards recognize her achievements and contributions.
- In 2007, she received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. This award was given by Commissioner Bud Selig.
- In 2009, UCLA gave her the UCLA Medal. This is the highest honor from the university. It celebrates people who have made amazing contributions to their fields and to society.
- She has also received twelve honorary doctorates.
- Other awards include the Candace Award for Distinguished Service.
- She also received the Equitable Life Black Achiever's Award.
- The Associated Black Charities gave her the Black History Makers Award.
In 2014, Rachel Robinson was honored by the Baseball Reliquary. She was inducted into their Shrine of the Eternals. In 2017, she received the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. This award came from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
About the Jackie Robinson Foundation
The Jackie Robinson Foundation is a non-profit organization. It gives scholarships to young people from minority groups. These scholarships help them go to college. The Foundation also works to keep the memory of Jackie Robinson alive.
Rachel Robinson founded the organization in 1973. It is located in New York City. The Foundation's motto is: "JRF has provided college and graduate school scholarships as well as leadership development opportunities for highly motivated students of color with limited financial resources."
Portrayals in Movies
Rachel Robinson's life has been shown in movies.
- In the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson Story, she was played by Ruby Dee.
- In the 2013 film 42, Nicole Beharie played Rachel.
Rachel's Personal Life
On July 19, 2022, Rachel Robinson celebrated her 100th birthday. She is a centenarian, meaning she is 100 years old or older. She lives on a large farm in Salem, Connecticut.
See also
